Kenya, July 1 -- Kilifi County speaker impeached. The Kilifi County Assembly has recently decided to remove its Speaker, Hon. Teddy Mwambire, in a big vote that showed most members wanted him gone.

The vote that took place at the county assembly led to 40 members of the assembly (MCAs) voting for his impeachment, while only 10 voted against it.

The decision to impeach came after a difficult time filled with accusations against Speaker Mwambire about misbehaviour and misusing his position.

The reason for his removal included claims of breaking the Constitution and the county assembly's rules.

One major accusation was that he interfered with the budget-making process, which could harm the Kilifi County Government, along with other important governance issues.

Thomas Chengo, the MCA from Tezo ward, introduced the motion to impeach him and urged his fellow MCAs to vote in favour of it.

During the discussions before the vote, those supporting the impeachment said Speaker Mwambire often ignored the Constitution and the rules that guide the county assembly. They gave examples of times he acted alone, which went against the decisions of other members.

On the other hand, some MCAs who opposed the impeachment felt the move was more about politics than real issues.

They said Speaker Mwambire had done well in his role, helping pass important laws and overseeing big development projects.

Despite this, most MCAs felt her actions were serious enough to justify his removal.

This impeachment can have significant effects on Kilifi County. It might mean a change in leadership, which could be either good or bad for the residents.

Speaker Mwambire's removal also brings up questions about who will lead the county assembly next.

As this political situation unfolds, many people are watching to see how the assembly will proceed.

Public reaction has been mixed; some residents feel relieved, hoping for better leadership and governance. Others worry about political instability and its effects, especially on the ODM party.

After the vote, Deputy Speaker Naftal Kombo announced that the position of Speaker is now empty. He will take on the role of Acting Speaker and will manage the House's work until a new Speaker is chosen within 21 days.

The County Assembly Clerk might inform the Senate Clerk about this within 48 hours, as a formality. This is different from the impeachment of county governors, where the Senate has a direct role, but here, they do not.

Mr. Mwambire, who used to be an MP for Ganze Constituency, was not present during the vote. However, when we reached out to him for his response, he said he has asked his lawyers to handle the situation in court.

He expressed concern that the County Assembly didn't follow three court orders, including one that was sent to them on Monday morning. He is leaving the matter to his lawyers and the judicial system.

Majority Leader Ibrahim Abdi Athman, known as Ibrahim Matumbo, spoke to reporters after the session. He mentioned that the head of the budget committee had earlier received a court order that cancelled some of Mwambire's actions, which helped lead to the impeachment vote.

"We have been working on this for a long time. Today was about confirming his wrongdoings and finally voting him out," Mr. Matumbo said. "He has caused us legal and political troubles, and it was time to remove that burden."

He dismissed claims that Governor Gideon Mung'aro had a hand in Mwambire's removal or that the MCAs were bribed.

However, it was said that the legislators who supported the impeachment arrived at the Assembly in a tour bus after spending time at a nice hotel outside the county, allegedly hosted by a senior official. Matumbo denied that there was any political manipulation.

"As MCAs, we also have our businesses, and we can pay for any hotel we want," he stated. "Now that we've succeeded, I'm planning to take my team to Tanzania to celebrate," he added.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.